Indicating board



F. HOLLER INDICATING BOARD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1965 A TTOR/VE 6 am mum? W F 6 H w z u N w mw V1 2 2 T l xv v v x a a n 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M J z N F. HOLLER INDICATING BOARD Sept. 17, 1968 Filed June 21, 1965 INVENTOR. FRANZ HOLLER.

f, m m m m w m ILZHEI o ATTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1968 Y FQHOLLER 3,401,667

INDICATING BOARD Filed June 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,0 Fig.7

INVENTOR. FRANZ HOLLEIZ Sept. 17, 1968 Filed June 21, 1965 F. HOLLER INDICATING BOARD 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 y I" 3/ -5O X 49 32 Ask 1 K22 INVENTOR. FRANZ HOLLE Z hvumu gain-4 A T CQNE Y5 F. HOLLER Sept. 17, 1968 INDI CAT ING BOARD 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 21, 1965 FRANZ HOLLER United States Patent 3,401,667 INDICATING BOARD Franz Holler, Obermainanlage 21, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 267,731, Mar. 25, 1963. This application June 21, 1965, Ser. No. 469,047

8 Claims. (Cl. 116-135) This invention relates to an indicating board and refers more particularly to a board for graphically registering various statistical and other data either for indicating them individually or for comparing them with each other by the use of indicating tapes of different colors and/or appearance.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application, Ser. No. 267,731, filed Mar. 25, 1963.

Indicating boards of this type comprise guide channels containing the tapes which are Islidable in columns over the next to each other by manualy operable transport rollers located at one end of each guide channel. By superposing several indicating tapes in a single guide channel, a plurality of associated values may be coordinated with each other, thus saving space and providing a comprehensive indication. The total lengths of the tapes visible in each channel may indicate the Sum of these associated values.

These indicating boards must be so constructed that the change in any particular value must be registered as quickly and as easily as possible in such manner that the tape or tapes, the indicating ends of which lie below'a more advanced tape which is being adjusted in the same guide channel, will be held in an arrested position, while those tapes which extend above the tape being adjusted, must be simultaneously shifted for the same distance and in the same direction.

In prior are constructions is was necessary to carry out individually separate manipulations to shift several indicating tapes wherever such tapes had to be moved to follow one tape which had to be actuated to vary the indication of a certain value.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of prior art constructions and to produce an indicating board which can be operated much more quickly and simply than those known in prior art.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to guide the indicating tapes emerging from a common guide channel between several pairs of rollers, each pair being composed of a transport roller and a counter-roller, whereby one transport roller is used for shifting one specific tape in any one of two directions. Each transport roller is operatively associated with a separate locking device which is automatically actuated when that transport roller is operated to lock in a fixed position all those tapes which do not extend between that transport roller and its associated counter-roller. Thus by actuating that one transport roller not only the length of the tape associated therewith, which is visible upon the guide channel, is being moved to the desired extent, but at the same time all other tapes located above it are also moved to the same extent, while all tapes located below it are held firmly by the locking device associated with the actuated transport roller and operated automaticaly when that roller is operated.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

3,40 1,6 6 7 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of an indicating board of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front view of the board.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section through the guide channels, on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale; some parts be ing broken off.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section along the line VV of FIG. 4.

FIGURE 6 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 4 on a larger scale.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the board.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a pointer on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a pushbutton unit.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view, showing the disc units.

FIGURE 11 is a section along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

The indicating board shown in the drawings comprises an elongated frame 10, having an upper section 11 wherein the ends of the tapes 12 are displayed and a lower section 13 which extends somewhat forwardly of the section 11 and which contains the device for manipulating the tapes (FIG. 7). Below this device pockets may be provided in which paper sheets containing various types of useful information may be stored (not shown).

In the example illustrated the upper section 11 is composed of three parallel channels 14 (FIG. 3) adapted to receive the ends of the superposed tapes 12. The tape operating device is correspondingly arranged in three parallel rows. Obviously, the number of channels and of the devices operating the tapes in these channels may be varied, depending upon specific uses and requirements.

As best shown in FIG. 3, each channel 14 comprises two U-shaped side portions 15 and 16 which are joined by a plate 17 located in the middle of the side portions 15 and 16 and dividing the channel 14 into an upper section 18 and a lower section 19. The upper flanges 20 and 21 of the sides 15 and 16 are somewhat inclined toward the plate 17 so as to reduce the friction of the indicating tapes 12 and to prevent them from buckling transversely and slipping out of the channel section 18. For the sake of clarity the tapes 12 are not shown in FIG. 3. The portion 21 extends beyond its channel and is used to carry a scale 22, shown in FIG. 2. Thus the visible lengths of the indicating tapes 12 located in sections 18 and representing certain specific values may be easily and accurately ascertained.

An outer flange of a channel side portion 15 extends in the opposite direction to the flange 22 and is curved so as to form a groove constituting a guide rail 23 of arcuate cross section (FIG. 3). Pointers 2 4 are slida'bly mounted in the rails 23. Each pointer 24 is preferably made of a plastic material and has an inner hook-shaped end 25 fitting into the guide rail 23 so that the pointer will be held in any desired position. The outer portion of the pointer 24 has an angular projection 26 which will point toward any desired location of the scale 22 (FIG. 2). A plate 27 having a slit 28 constitutes an integral part of the pointer 24 and extends upwardly in a direction opposed to the projection 26. Due to this arrangement, a small label (not shown) may be conveniently fitted into the slit 28. In place of the label, or in addition thereto, a thread or string 29, preferably an elastic one, may be extended through the slits 28 of the pointers 24. Thus the thread 29 will extend across the channels 14 to provide a diagrammatic indication of a specific condition.

a portion of partly in section,

A window is provided in the plate 17 of each channel adjacent the top thereof. The length of the indicating tapes 12 is such that when the indicating end of any one of them reaches the value of zero, the rear end of that tape will appear behind the window 30 as a warning signal to show that this tape should not be move-d any further, since it may otherwise slip out of the tape operating device.

The indicating tapes 12 are preferably of different colors or have a different appearance. They may be made of relatively stiff but flexible paper. In order to reduce the frictional wear upon the tapes caused by the manipulating device, both sides of the tape are preferably covered by a transparent layer or coating of a plastic material.

The device for operating the tapes which is located in the lower section 13 (FIG. 1), includes pushbuttons 31 which are located in parallel rows corresponding to he number of the channels, while the number of pushbuttons 31 in each row corresponds to the number of tapes to be used in each channel. The pushbuttons may be provided with indicia or coloring corresponding to a specific tape. Obviously, the number of tapes and pushbuttons may vary, depending upon requirements.

Partitions 32 and 33, constituting a part of a housing, extend between the rows of the pushbuttons and are firmly connected with the frame 11 (FIG. 1). Each pushbutton 31 is L-shaped and has an integral rear plate-like portion 34 slidable in a recess 35 provided in a partition wall (FIG. 4). A coiled spring 36 is located in the bottom of the recess 35 and has one end fixed in the wall 32 while its other end is fixed in the plate 34 of the pushbutton 31 (FIG. 6). Thus the spring 36 maintains the pushbutton 31 in its upper inoperative position. A shaft 37 is rotatably mounted in the plate 34 and carries a transport roller 38 which is keyed thereon; the roller 38 is preferably made of rubber or suitable plastic material. The shaft 37 extends through an elongated slot 39 formed in a partition wall 33- (FIG. 5) and is firmly connected with a knurled disc 40 located outside of the wall 33. As best shown in FIG. 2, the knurled discs 40 of the various pushbutton units are arranged so that they somewhat overlap each other; yet each knurled disc 40 can be conveniently operated manually without disturbing any adjacent discs.

A shaft 41 has one end fixed in the partition wall 32; it extends parallel to the shaft 37 and carries a counterroller 42 which is rotatably mounted thereon (FIG. 5). When a pushbutton 31 is depressed, its transport roller 38 will move in the direction toward its associated counter-roller 42 to operate the tapes 12 in a manner which will be described in detail hereinafter.

The wall 32 also carries fixed projections 43 extending between adjacent transport rollers 38 and constituting guides for the tapes. Furthermore, the wall 32 is integral with a cover 44 extending under the pushbuttons 31. A pin 45 is fixed to the wall 32 adjacent each transport roller 38 (FIG. 6). A torsion coil spring 46 is swingably mounted upon the pin 45. One end of the Spring 46 is fixed to the movable plate 34 of the pushbutton 31 while its other end extends close to the inner surface of the cover 44. Thus when the pushbutton 31 is depressed and the plate 34 is moved rearwardly, it will swing the spring 46 so that it will press a tape ortapes against the inner surface of the cover 44.

Below each row of pushbuttons is a curved guide 47 for guiding the,tapes upwardly after they have passed between the rollers 38 and 42 (FIG. 4). Guides 48 are carried by the wall 32 and extend between the rollers 42. A rear space 49 for the upward movement of the tapes is provided between the guides 48 and a bottom plate 50 connected with a wall 32 (FIG. 5).

The arrangement of the tapes 12 in the manipulating device is best shown in FIG. 4. A plurality of superposed tapes located in a channel 14 passes through an opening 51 into the casing formed by walls 32 and 33 and plates 44 and 50. The lowermost tape 12a extends directly, between all rollers 38 and 42 until it reaches the bottom guide 47 upwardly and then moves around the guide, 47, through the inner chamber 49 and into the inner compartment 19 of the Ichannel14. The tape 12b which is located directly above the tape 12a, passes over the uppermost pair of rollers 38, 42, then it is moved inwardly'between. the uppermost guide 43 and between the next pair of rollers designated as 38b and. 42b. Then it. joins the lowermost tape 12a and passes along with it around the guide 47 and backinto the channel 14. Thetape which is located directly above the tape=-12b passes over two uppermost pairs of rollers and betweenthe rollers of the third pair. The next tape passes betweenthe rollers of the fourth pair. This arrangement is. repeated with reference to remaining tapes and pairs of rollers. v

The operation of the board is apparent from the above description. Let it be assumed that the user wishes ,to change the location of theend of the tape 12b which is visible in a channel 14; he will then press downwardly the corresponding button 3111. As already stated, the button 31b will be provided with coloring or indicia indicating that it corresponds to the tape 12b. The downward movement of the button 3111 along with its plate 34 will compress the spring 36 and will press the roller 38b against the roller 42b, thereby compressing the tapes 12a and 12b located between these two rollers. At the same time the plate 34 will swing the spring 46b so that the spring will press all the other tapes against the cover 44. The user then turns the corresponding knurled disc 40b. The rotation of the disc 40b is transmitted through its shaft 37 to the roller 38b, so that the roller 3812 will move the tapes 12a and 12b to the desired extent. At the same time all the other tapes will be held firmly in place.

It is apparent that any other tape may be similarly actuated by depressing its pushbutton and turning the corresponding knurled disc..

It is further apparent that the example described above has been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that it is subject to many variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention; thus it. is possible to eliminate the pushbuttons altogether, since pressure against a knurled disc may suflice to move the transport roller against a counter-roller. The resilient means locking the tapes may be used at the same time as the resilient means moving the pushbutton back from a depressed position. All such and other va'riations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An indicating apparatus having an elongated first housing comprising a base member, parallel side walls and a plurality of open channels supported on said base member in juxtaposted relation, a second housing connected to one end of said first housing and comprising a plurality of spaced walls 'forming' closed channels constituting a continuation of respective first-mentioned channels, a plurality of respective tape drive means each co'rriprising a drive roller and a cooperating counter roller longitudinally spaced and operatively positioned in each of the second-mentioned channels, a plurality of push buttons reciprocably mounted in said walls of the second housing and longitudinally spaced'therein, each of said drive rollers being rotatably mounted in a respective push button for reciprocating movement therewith toward and away from its cooperating counter roller, a plurality of actuating discs, each one of said discs being operatively connected to a respective drive roller, a plurality of superposed tapes disposed in respective channels and having free ends extending into the channels of the first-mentioned housing, respective guide means disposed within the second-mentioned channels and directing a respective one of said tapes toward a 'space between a-respective drive roller and its cooperating counter roller, so that each one of said tapes is operatively associated with a respective drive roller, whereby depression of a push button and the turning of the associated disc will cause the associated drive roller to move its associated tape, a plurality of locking means connected with said push buttons and operable when a push button is depressed for preventing movement of other tapes in a respective channel, spring means operatively connected with respective push buttons to return said push buttons to their original positions when pressure against the push buttons is released, said locking means comprising a spring biased swingable member having a pair of arms, a pin pivotally supporting said member in a respective wall of said second housing, one of said arms engaging and movable with a respective drive roller and the other arm being adapted to engage and press upon said other tapes when the respective push button is depressed.

2. An indicating apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tapes consist of paper coated on both sides with plastic.

3. An indicating apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said tapes has an indicating end and a rear end, each of the channels of said first housing having a substantially central longitudinal partition dividing it into a front channel holding the indicating ends of said tapes and a rear channel for the rear ends of the tapes.

4. An indicating apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said partition has an aperture located close to the upper end of said first housing and constituting a window through which said rear end of a tape may be visible.

5. An indicating apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said channels of said first housing has a substantially U-shaped cross section and comprises a transverse shoulder at the free end of each arm of said U, one of said transverse shoulders having an indicating scale extending substantially along the length of the channel for cooperating with the indicating end of said tapes.

6. An indicating apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said shoulders are inwardly inclined toward a wall of the channel and the shoulder carrying said scale extends in a laterally outward direction.

7. An indicating apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein another one of said shoulders comprises an additional channel portion integral therewith and located on the outer side thereof, said channel portion having a slotlike opening extending toward the front of the channel.

8. An indicating apparatus in accordance with claim 7, comprising a plurality of marker members, each of said marker members having a resilient part adapted to be inserted into said channel portion through said slotlike opening to hold the marking member in a fixed position, each of said marker members further having a cardholding projection on the front side thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,889,006 11/1932 Szepsi 116-135 2,032,304 2/1936 Padgett 116135 2,071,288 2/1937 Thompson 116135 2,118,675 5/1938 Jackson 116135 2,122,855 7/1938 Bombard et a1 116-135 2,140,253 12/1938 Waschau 116135 2,593,348 4/1952 Sanderson 1l6--135 3,057,323 10/1962 Ekisu-Gomi 1l6135 LOUIS I CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN INDICATING APPARATUS HAVING AN ELONGATED FIRST HOUSING COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER, PARALLEL SIDE WALLS AND A PLURALITY OF OPEN CHANNELS SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER IN JUXTAPOSED RELATION, A SECOND HOUSING CONNECTED TO ONE END OF SAID FIRST HOUSING AND COMPRISING A PLURRALITY OF SPACED WALLS FORMING CLOSED CHANNELS CONSTITUTING A CONTINUATION OF RESPECTIVE FIRST-MENTIONED CHANNELS, A PLURALITY OF RESPECTIVE TAPE DRIVE MEANS EACH COMPRISING A DRIVE ROLLER AND A COOPERATING COUNTER ROLLER LONGITUDINALLY SPACED AND OPERATIVELY POSITIONED IN EACH OF THE SECOND-MENTIONED CHANNELS, A PLURALITY OF PUSH BUTTONS RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED IN SAID WALLS OF THE SECOND HOUSING AND LONGITUDINALLY SPACED THEREIN, EACH OF SAID DRIVE ROLLERS BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN A RESPECTIVE PUSH BUTTON FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT THEREWITH TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ITS COOPERATING COUNTER ROLLER, A PLURALITY OF ACTUATING DISCS, EACH ONE OF SAID DISCS BEING OPEATIVELY CONNECTED TO A RESPECTIVE DRIVE ROLLER, A PLURALITY OF SUPERPOSED TAPES DISPOSED IN RESPECTIVE CHANNELS AND HAVING FREE ENDS EXTENDING INTO THE CHANNELS OF THE FIRST-MENTIONED HOUSING, RESPECTIVE GUIDE MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN 